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inside: Bishop: Torture undermines dignity A4ATTENTION POST OFFICE — PLEASE DELIVER BY FEB. 29

DEbRA TOMAsELLIFlorida Catholic correspondent

ORLANDO — The Diocese of Orlando has started to require parishes to use tamper-resistant bags and adopt other security measures to ensure all of the money placed into collection baskets makes it into parish-es’ bank accounts.

Diocesan officials didn’t want to disclose exact proce-dures, but said auditors are in the process of training parish leaders about how to log col-lections and record bag num-bers, segregate monetary re-sponsibilities and implement dual controls when counting monies. As each parish re-ceives its presentation, the security program becomes mandatory there.

“It’s a good thing,” said Roger Barnes, comptroller for the diocese, who learned about the bags at a f iscal managers’ conference. “This will strengthen internal con-trols.”

The plastic bags, which come in different sizes, are prenumbered, allowing ef-fective tracking policies, but the key feature is their con-struction.

“These bags are tamper-re-sistant. You can’t open or un-seal them,” Barnes said. “You have to cut them with a pair of scissors or rip them open.” In addition, unlike the clear bags

some banks provide, the bags are opaque, and you can’t see inside. “That’s a safety feature,” Barnes said.

Some parishes used similar procedures, but not to the full

extent, said Barnes. Some used bags that were not prenumbered. Others tracked funds for only part of the process. This program is designed to work from the time monies are collected to the time

they are deposited. “I’m happy to see the plan

rolled out,” Barnes said. “This gives our parishioners confi-dence that their contributions are safeguarded between their

pocketbook and the bank.”“I really feel comfortable

about it,” said Maureen Houli-han, bookkeeper at Holy Fam-ily Parish in Orlando. “It adds a layer of protection from pos-sibility of fraud for volunteers and staff. As a bookkeeper of a very large church, I don’t want anyone to have reason to accuse me, so it protects me as well as the church.”

Nancy O’Reilly, office man-ager at Annunciation Parish in Altamonte Springs, said the bags, with their safeguards against tampering, are effec-tive. Although the parish used similar bags before, she said the diocesan program offers better control.

“I’m glad,” she said, echoing Houlihan’s sentiment. “It’s for your protection as well as the ushers, volunteers and employ-ees.”

“The system is pract ical and effective,” added Father Charles Mitchell, pastor of St. Mary Magdalen Parish in Al-tamonte Springs. “The bags protect the stewardship and generosity of the parish as well as those charged with handling the money. We’re pleased with it.” n

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Protecting your donation

Diocese of orlando is starting to require parishes to implement security measures for money placed in the collection basket

FLORIDA CATHOLIC PHOTO BY TOMÁS EVANS

Tamper-resistant bags, such as the one pictured above, will soon be mandatory for use by all parishes. These bags will help ensure safety of parish monies from collection to bank deposit.

Cuban exiles not optimistic about changeANA RODRIGUEZ-sOTOof the Florida Catholic staff

MIAMI — Pardon the yawn, but that is how Cubans in Florida re-acted to the news of Fidel Castro’s resignation as president of Cuba.

“It’s a different dog with the same fleas,” said Msgr. Pedro Luis Perez, pastor of San Lazaro Parish in Hia-leah, using a colloquial Spanish saying, “Es el mismo perro con otro collar.”

Castro’s resignation was posted on the Web site of Granma, Cuba’s official newspaper, at dawn Feb. 19. On Feb. 24, Cuba’s national assem-bly elected Fidel’s younger brother, 76-year-old Raúl, as president.

Raúl Castro had been running the country since his brother ceded power to him 19 months ago, after announcing he would be undergo-ing intestinal surgery.

“I would have been surprised if they had told me that Fidel Castro had gone on an Ignatian retreat, seven days without speaking,” added Msgr. Perez, who was among a group of priests — including Miami’s retired Auxiliary Bishop Agustín Román — who were ex-pelled from the island in 1961. “That would be surprising.”

The change at the top “doesn’t make any difference to me and even less to the people of Cuba,” agreed Rosario Bergouignan, a notary in the archdiocese’s Metropolitian Tri-bunal who visited Cuba in January on a humanitarian mission.

‘Different dog, same fleas’

PLEASE SEE CUBA, A7

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Florida Catholic Feb. 29-March 6, 2008A2 Your orlando communitY

Jairo a. CastrillónSpecial to the Florida Catholic

WINTER PARK — This city’s Hispanic community celebrated Spanish-language Mass in the main church at Sts. Peter and Paul Parish Feb. 9. The chapel could no longer accommodate all the people who wanted to attend each Saturday.

Father Hilario Rivera, parochial vicar, celebrated the Mass, which was attended by more than 700 people. The number of Hispanic families is growing in that part of the city and the number of His-panics at the parish continues to increase and is expected to sur-pass 1,000.

Noelia Rodríguez, who along with her husband is active in min-istries, said, “It is beautiful to see how little by little the community is growing. This is the result of our humble efforts.

“A few years ago, only seven or 10 people attended Mass. We thank God and all the people who have joined us,” she said, vis-ibly moved by the response of the community.

Ana Torres, parish director for Hispanic ministry, declared that “the mixed emotions” were inde-scribable. “At this time, sadness and joy are two feelings which cannot be separated,” she said.

Speaking to the attendees she first thanked all the people who planted the seeds for this com-munity to grow healthy. “There were several years of hard efforts to prepare the ground. This is why we are harvesting the fruits now,” Torres said.

Torres thanked parochial ad-ministrator Father Derk Shudde for the crystallization of the ideas brought to him through many people, including María Rivera

Parish celebrates Spanish-language Mass in main church for the first time

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Father hilario rivera, parochial vicar at Sts. peter and paul parish in Winter park, makes a point as he preacheds the homily at the Spanish-language Mass.

and Carlos Vélez. “I thank God for the privilege

to see our community growing so rapidly. This is why I invite you to continue to follow his calling and cultivate more seeds of faith for the coming generations,” Torres said. n

This is a translation of an article Castrillón wrote for El Clarín, the Spanish-language newspaper of the Diocese of Orlando.

Florida CatholiC photo by Valeta orlando

parishioners pray the our Father at the Spanish Mass at Sts. peter and paul parish.

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Your orlando communitY A3Feb. 29-March 6, 2008 www.thefloridacatholic.org

Laura DoDsonFlorida Catholic correspondent

OrlandO — Whether they are par-ents taking care of children, spouses tak-ing care of ailing partners or adults taking care of parents and children, many people seem to have little time left to take care of themselves. Who comforts the caregiver?

Adele González answered, “God is with us.” It is a simple, yet profound message. González said once internalized, the mes-sage is powerful.

González directed a memorable retreat last year at San Pedro Spiritual Develop-ment Center in Winter Park aimed at care-givers, “Caring for the Caregiver: Chal-lenges to Our Faith and Spirituality,” for the Florida Catholic AIDS Network. The network is comprised of representatives from each diocese and is under the um-brella of the Florida Catholic Conference in Tallahassee.

Twenty people from Florida and Geor-gia, including those involved in bereave-ment ministry, HIV/AIDS ministry and ministry to the sick attended. Retreat par-ticipants were encouraged to attend all

three days.González told the attendees, “God is

love. God created us in love and for love. Each of us is the beloved of God.”

According to González, as we care, we realize that we are being cared for by God. It’s all about a relationship with God, self and others.

Having a relationship with God leads us to better relationships with ourselves and others. González reminded attendees, “We must see Christ in the other and the other in Christ. We are all the body of Christ.”

González contends that this idea is no-where more true than in working with peo-ple with HIV/AIDS. “They are the lepers of our society today, but there is more to each of us than our brokenness,” she said.

Doug and Mary Dilts have worked as AIDS ministers at their parish, Our Lady of Hope in Port Orange, for nearly 10 years. Following the retreat, Doug Dilts told the Florida Catholic, “Adele had a pretty pow-erful message with regards to our faith. It wasn’t a holier-than-thou perspective, it was a real-life thing. It was easy to relate to.”

Mary Dilts added, “When we started

in this ministry, we wanted to help and serve so many and we got frustrated be-cause many didn’t come. People were dy-ing. There were people working 40 hours a week and feeling like they weren’t doing enough (to care for people). God doesn’t put a number on our ministry — we do. If you concentrate on the numbers and results, you lose what you started out to do. It’s overwhelming what we get from the group — it’s a care team for each one of us.” n

Who brings comfort to the caregiver? God brings comfort

Popular speaker will offer presentations in Spanish at Festival of Faith in MayLaura DoDsonFlorida Catholic correspondent

OrlandO — Adele González is a sought-after speaker for the warmth and personality she brings to her talks.

“Dr. González delivers the good news that there is, in fact, good news,” said Carol Stanton, program marketing director for San Pedro Spiritual Development Center in Win-ter Park. “She has had years of experience teaching and working with pastoral minis-ters. She is, herself, a warm and empathetic pastoral presence. Her message often deeply moves others and she is aware and attentive to them.”

Stanton called González a “breath of fresh air” following González’ presentation at a January retreat on evangelization. The retreat was part of the Foundation for Lay Ministry Program — a three-year program of forma-tion to become a lay ecclesial minister.

González seems to touch people personal-ly. Roberta “Bobbi” Govanus, a first-year par-

ticipant of the program from Corpus Christi Parish in Celebration, said, “Adele helped us appreciate where we are on the journey. We can’t keep doing for others unless we refocus our-selves. We want to go into the world and serve,

but God wants to serve us, too.”

González, who holds a doctorate in min-istry, spent more than 35 years in ministry at the diocesan and parish levels, and is work-ing as a retreat director, speaker and author. Because her presentations are so popular, González will be one of the speakers at the diocesan Festival of Faith, May 8-10, at the Orange County Convention Center, South Concourse, in Orlando.

Her presentations, scheduled May 9 and 10, both at 11 a.m., will be conducted in Spanish — “El Poder Evangelizador de la Palabra de Dios” (“The Evangelizing Power of the Word of God”).

“Evangelization is the mission of the church and we are the church,” González ex-plained. “We are called not only to proclaim the good news of the love of God for all, but to become good news in our families, world and church today.

“When we proclaim the good news, we are basically proclaiming the mystery of the incarnation: Emmanuel — God with us, the word made flesh and union between the hu-man and the divine,” González said. “We be-come the good news.”

On a personal note, González, who is Cuban-American, expressed her excitement about the upcoming festival. “In all the talks I’ve given, they’ve always been in English. This is a great opportunity to work with the Spanish community in the Orlando Diocese.” n

Retreat leader brings touch of empathy

Adele González

What is the Florida Catholic AIDS Network?

The Florida Catholic AIDS network is the collaborative effort of representatives ap-pointed by the bishops of the one archdiocese and six dioceses in the state. As such, it functions under the auspices of the Florida Catholic Conference and is a direct result of the “First Pastoral Letter on AIDS” of the Catholic Bishops of Florida in 1987.

The group meets four times per year in Orlando. Beryl Andrade, diocesan director of the Office of Family Life and Pastoral Care, is serving a two-year term as its president.

FYi

FLORIDA CATHOLIC PHOTO BY CHARLES HODGES

Global ecoloGy

Bishop Thomas Wenski was a keynote speaker on environmental stewardship Feb. 21, at the “Let There Be Light — 2008 Creation Care Conference” hosted by Rev. Joel Hunter, senior pastor of Northland, A Church Distributed, in Longwood. The conference included presentations from leaders of religion and the field of environmentalism. Bishop Wenski told attendees, “ As people of faith — we have always been concerned about ecology — moral ecology; we oppose

the moral pollution of what pornography does to people; social ecology, we see the consequences of the breakup of the family, when the idea of family founded on marriage between one man and one woman is challenged. Why should we not be concerned about global ecology as well? Attacks on ecology are a result of sin and fallen human nature.” Read more about the conference in the March 7-13 issue of Florida Catholic.

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Florida Catholic Feb. 29-March 6, 2008A4 Your orlando communitY

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FloridaCatholic

Vol. 69, No. 15

During Lent — and of course in the Sorrowful Mysteries of the Ro-sary — our minds and hearts are turned to meditating on the suffer-ings of Our Lord: his agony in the garden before his arrest, his painful scourging, the mocking crowning with thorns, his carrying the cross and his crucifixion. We do well to recall how this was visited upon Jesus with state sanction if only to understand why the Church in her teachings condemns torture. Pope Benedict XVI, in a Sept. 6, 2007, address, said, “I reit-erate that the prohibition against torture ‘cannot be contravened under any circum-stances.’” Torture undermines and debases the human dignity of both victims and perpetrators.

As chairman of the Committee on International Justice and Peace of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, I have written several let-ters to Congress over the past two years urging passage of legislation to prohibit torture as an interroga-tion technique. In 2005, our Confer-ence of Bishops was successful in encouraging Congress to adopt pro-

visions prescribing uniform stan-dards for interrogating detainees held by the Department of Defense and prohibiting cruel, inhuman

and degrading treatment or punishment of persons un-der its custody or control. Congress adopted these provisions. However, the president has threatened to veto HR 2082, the Intel-ligence Authorization Act, which includes legislation just passed last week that would expand this ban on torture to other agencies and agents of the U.S. gov-ernment. Thus, regretfully, the debate over torture continues.

The United States should hold it-self to the highest ethical standards and fully comply with earlier com-mitments to observe international law in its treatment of detainees. This should apply to those held here in the United States or abroad or whether rendered by the United States to its allies. This is important to how the United States is viewed abroad; but, more importantly, hu-man dignity is undermined once we allow ourselves to pursue an ethic of ends justifying means.

A “might makes right” posture undermines the rule of law and opens the door to tyranny. The foundation of security, justice and peace in an open society must be based on respect for the dignity of every person — ally or enemy. There can be no compromise on the moral imperative to protect the ba-sic human rights of any individual incarcerated.

As a nation we have champi-oned human rights. Support for Common Article 3 of the Geneva Conventions has long been U.S. policy. This article prohibits “cruel treatment and torture” as well as “outrages upon personal dignity, in particular humiliating and de-grading treatment.” While combat-ing terrorism remains a top prior-ity for our government, any report of prisoner mistreatment by the United States or its allies will ulti-mately prove counterproductive in the war against terrorism.

Terrorism does incite fear; but we cannot allow fear to dehuman-ize us as we seek to respond to very real threats. In adhering to Common Article 3 of the Geneva Conventions, we would commit our nation to treat prisoners as we would demand that our enemies

Torture undermines dignity of perpetrators and victims

from tHe BisHoP

Thomas Wenski

treat our own military personnel or citizens. Congress should act to ban torture by any agent of the U.S. government. To tolerate or con-done torture not only undermines our moral credibility in the world, but also erodes our own self-un-derstanding as a people dedicated to the proposition that all men, cre-ated equal, “are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights.” n

Remember to attend the Festival of Faith — May 8-10, Orange County Convention Center, South Con-course, International Drive, off I-4, Orlando — celebrating the Diocese of Orlando’s 40th anniversary and the “Year of Evangelization.” For more information, visit the Web site: www.festivaloffaith.org.

Catholic Web sites of interest:Texts by Bishop Thomas Wenski: www.orlandodiocese.orgThe Vatican: www.vatican.vaThe U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops news and daily readings: www.usccb.org/news/index.shtml“The New American Bible”: www.usccb.org/nab/bible/

WeB sites

This is one in an occasional profile of men preparing for the priesthood.

Seminarian Randy Allen from the Diocese of Orlando shares informa-tion about his life. He is a pre-theo-logian at St. John Vianney College Seminary in Miami.

born: Stuttgart, Germany, March 10, 1968.

family: Father, Randolph E. Al-len Sr.; mother, Marva Allen; young-er sister, Angie Allen.

When did you enter the semi-nary? Aug. 9, 2007.

education: John S. Burke Catho-lic High School, Goshen, N.Y.; as-sociate degree in human behavior from Orange County Community College, Middletown, N.Y.; bach-elor’s degree in social science from Mount St. Mary College, Newburgh, N.Y.; pre-theology certificate, St. Johns University, Queens, N.Y.

What did you do before becom-ing a seminarian? I was a case-

worker. current responsibilities: Minis-

ter of the sick at a senior residence. What do you do on your time

off? I relax and watch TV.favorite movie: “Lord of the

Rings” series.favorite tV series: “Eureka,”

“Smallville,” “Pimp My Ride.” When did you know you want-

ed to be a priest? During Mass at school when I was 15.

Vocation moment: World Youth Day 2000 as an event coordinator.

What would you be doing if you had not entered the seminary? I would continue to be a caseworker or teacher.

favorite seminarian pastoral assignment: Missionary work and pastoral planning.

Greatest joy: Helping others discern/discover God’s dream for them.

What is your description of the ideal priest? Someone who is pas-

torally enriched and devoutly rever-ent.

Priestly stereotype that should be discarded: Those priests are elite.

Who was most surprised by your vocation? Oddly, no one — most be-lieved I would work for the church in some capacity.

for what did the seminary not prepare you? How to be an active, compassionate listener.

What is your greatest accom-plishment? Being on the Archdio-cese of New York Board for Young Adults, 1998-2001.

What is your favorite type of music? I like all types.

What do you collect? Quarters representing each one of the United States.

What person do you admire the most? My uncle, Ronald Malcolm, (who) represented for me a man who was balanced, faithful and had charisma. He drew people by his intellect and passion to be a good Christian. He is still alive and a steadfast volunteer at this local par-ish in Palm Bay.

What do you fear the most? Nev-er living God’s dream for me.

What is your greatest hope? To be ordained and actualized as God created me to become. n

GeTTinG To know a seminarian

Randy Allen intends to live ‘God’s dream for me’

Randy Allen

florida news a13Feb. 29-March 6, 2008 www.thefloridacatholic.org

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AMY FERRARA SMITHof the Florida Catholic staff

Children as young as 3 walk from their families’ farms in the Panama-nian countryside to the town where the “gringo” dentists will clean their teeth for free. Some travel for four hours barefoot, and even more make the journey without food or water. When they arrive, Dr. Art Krzeminski of Pensacola and his team of volunteer dentists, hygien-ists and assistants first satisfy the patients’ hunger and then tell them to open wide.

For 18 years, Krzeminski and a group of dental volunteers have been providing free services to citizens in various Latin American countries. On this most recent trip in January, they flew to Panama City, Panama. From there, they trav-eled by bus for four hours to Chitré, where they checked into a hotel. To set up the clinic, however, they rode the bus more than an hour west to the small town of Ocú.

“When you treat these poor farm-ers and kids, you’re looking into the face of Jesus,” said Krzeminski, a member of St. Paul Parish in Pen-sacola.

Krzeminski’s involvement with the mission group began in 1991 when he worked as an endodontist in Baltimore. He had been reading a book about Costa Rica one day be-tween seeing patients in his office. A young dentist noticed the title and announced that she planned to travel soon to Costa Rica on a dental mission with a Methodist church, even though she was Jew-ish. Krzeminski followed her lead and signed on, too, with the Volun-teers in Mission of the United Meth-odist Church.

The following year, the Method-ist pastor scheduled a meeting to plan another mission trip to Latin America. Krzeminski was the only one who attended. The minister saw it as a sign.

“God chose you to lead the dental group,” he told Krzeminski.

And so he did. Now each year, Krzeminski — who moved to Pen-sacola in retirement four years ago — brings together Presbyterians, Baptists, Lutherans, Catholics, Jews, Muslims and Buddhists to share their skills with those in need in Latin America.

“We go to do what we’re trained to do,” he said.

This year, 33 people partici-pated in the dental mission trip to Panama and all paid $1,200 to take part. Sometimes, said Krzeminski, a dentist will fund his/her hygien-ist to make the trip, or a church will fund its parishioners.

“We were fortunate enough to be born in North America,” said Krzeminski. “God gave me a talent. … I have to give back to the com-munity.”

Retired because of arthritic fin-

gers, the 79-year-old works as the triage dentist on these mission trips, screening patients to find out what type of care they need. His fin-gers are too bent to use dental tools. Yet, there to help him on this trip to Panama were his daughter, Julie Krzeminski, and his wife, Pat.

“It’s not only a challenge, but it’s so fulfilling and exhausting,” said Pat Krzeminski. “At the end of the day, it’s rewarding to have helped families and children.”

Because the planning stages of the trip can sometimes be too stressful for her father, Julie Krzem-inski offered to oversee the financ-es. According to her father, she has also become a successful recruiter. When she joined the group eight years ago, she was the only person from Atlanta. Now, he said, more than half their team is from that area.

In a single day during its visit in Panama, the mission group saw 800 to 1,200 patients at its temporary location in a local primary school. January and February, according to Krzeminski, are the schools’ va-cation, equivalent to U.S. schools’ summer vacations. Because the schools are empty then, both space and patients are available. In this place, the mission group set up lawn chairs for the examinations. Many of the patients who walked for four hours to receive dental care had left their dirt-floor houses at 4 a.m. After team members fed them and treated their teeth, they sent them on their return journey with a boxed lunch.

“We do as much as we can,” said Krzeminski. “We treat what hurts.”

He has learned that in countries where sugar cane grows in abun-dance, mothers often use it as paci-fiers. The sugar eventually causes tooth decay.

“There may be one toothbrush for the whole family,” he added.

Colgate Palmolive, however, has helped to alleviate this problem. On a previous trip to Costa Rica, the factory supplied 1,000 dental kits from its San José location. Patients went home with toothbrushes, toothpaste and instructions written in Spanish on how to properly clean their teeth.

While the missionaries cared for Panamanians, Activo 20-30 Inter-national of Chitré (a service orga-nization similar to Rotary Interna-tional or Kiwanis) looked after the group. Members provided transla-tions when necessary, a farewell dinner and collared shirts with the missionaries’ names embroidered. In the past, they have organized an evening of folk dancing with the lo-cal children.

“It’s made up of men ages 20 to 39. They’re professionals. Their goal is to look out for the welfare of the children (in Latin America),” said Krzeminski.

During a previous mission trip to Panama, the group needed work-sites. A local dentist offered two of his offices. He then told his patients that U.S. dentists would be available to perform procedures for free. He was aware, he told Krzeminski, that many of them couldn’t really af-ford to pay him for service anyway. When the group left, the dentist’s wife gave Krzeminski a gold cross that had been blessed by Pope John Paul II. He now wears it around his neck.

“We could not accomplish the mission without ground support,” he said.

Krzeminski spoke about Mary Ella Mayne, a flight attendant he met while flying to El Salvador for another mission trip. Mayne joined the group the following year for a

trip to Costa Rica. She later sug-gested the missioners go to Pan-ama, her native country, to serve the poor. When Krzeminski said he would need “ground support” there, Mayne suggested he call her father, who happened to be Panama’s am-bassador to the Vatican, as well as her uncle, the minister of health for the country. And so the group ex-panded its mission to Panama.

Baltimore dentist Dr. Michael Luzuriaga has been on nearly all of the dental mission trips with Krzeminski. According to Krzem-inski, Luzuriaga is the mechanical guru of the operation, fastening to-gether donated equipment to make temporary dental work stations.

“He purchases all of the bits and pieces of dental units and puts them together. And they work,” said Krzeminski. He continued to

explain that Luzuriaga improvises to make the needed tools. For suc-tion units, he used Sears Shop-Vacs, which he continued to reduce in diameter to reach the appropriate size. For the dental units’ water sup-ply, he used soda bottles.

Once a trip is over, Luzuriaga stores the equipment in the base-ment of his office building. Some-time during the summer, said Krzeminski, he “revitalizes it” with the proper maintenance and clean-ing. When it’s time to travel again for the next mission trip, he takes on the daunting task of arranging to fly with the equipment.

Luzuriaga’s modesty about his contribution is in keeping with his work as a missionary.

“I just try to replicate the best way an average dentist works in an office,” he said. n

Dental missionaries share talents with Latin Americans

Bethany CenterWelcomes You

The Diocese of St. Petersburg’snew retreat and conference center

is now open to host your next event.

www.BethanyCenterFL.org18150 Bethany Center Drive • Lutz, Florida 33558 • 813-960-6300

Florida Catholic Feb. 29-March 6, 2008A14 Around Your communitY

ORL A14

The Florida Catholic welcomes calendar items of coming events for your par-ish or organization. Due to time required for production and mailing, we need to receive items at least five weeks before requested publication. Send items to: Around Your Community, Florida Catholic, P.O. Box 1800, Orlando, FL 32802-1800; by fax, send items marked Around Your Community to 407-246-4942; or e-mail to, orlando@thefloridacatholic.org.

Announcements for ongoing activities will be removed after 60 days. For continued coverage, announcements must be resubmitted.

orLAndo diocESE communitY PAGE SuBmiSSion dEAdLinES

PARISH EVENTSLenten fish fry dinners:

Fridays, through March 15, 4-8 p.m., St. Anthony Parish center, Lakeland. Cost: $6, includes fried fish, two side dishes, dessert and beverages. Clam chowder, shrimp and takeout available. Call 863-858-8047.

Lenten speaker series for adults: Mondays, through March 10, 7 p.m.,

Sts. Peter and Paul Parish, Winter Park. March 3, Sister of Divine Providence Linda Gaupin, diocesan senior director of religious education, on “The Liturgies of Holy Week”; March 10, Heidi Peckham, diocesan secretary for pastoral ministries, on “Forgiveness and Reconciliation.”

16th annual “Red and White Night” masquerade ball: March 1, 5:30 p.m., patron preview; 6 p.m., gala doors open, Golden Hills Golf and Turf Club, Ocala. Sponsored by Blessed Trinity Parish. Evening includes five-course dinner, live entertainment, silent auction, live auction. Tickets: $200 per couple; $100 per person. Sponsorships available. Reservations required. Call Stacey, 352-895-0759.

“One Voice in Praise II”: March 2, 7 p.m., St. Jude Parish, 443 Marion Oaks Drive, Marion Oaks, Ocala. Concert by clergy from Temple Beth Shalom and St. Jude Parish. Tickets: $15, reserved; $10, general seating. Benefits St. Jude Parish. Call Carol, 352-347-8485.

Annual Seder meal: March 18, 6:30 p.m., St. Mary Magdalen Parish life center, Altamonte Springs. Sponsored by St. Robert and St. Anne Circles, includes a re-enactment of the Hebrew Passover festival. Tickets: $20. Call the Parish Office 407-831-1212.

CONFERENCES/MEETINGS/OTHER EVENTS

The Helpers of God’s Precious Infants prayer vigil: Usually first Saturdays at different parishes. Each vigil begins with Mass, followed by rosary procession to nearby abortion site. March 22, Holy Saturday (fourth Saturday), 9 a.m., morning prayer, Cathedral of St. James, with Bishop Thomas Wenski. Sponsored by diocesan Office of Advocacy and Justice. Contact: 407-246-4819 or respectlife@orlandodiocese.org.

Diaconate Office information nights: March 5, Ascension Parish, Melbourne; March 6, Resurrection Parish, Lakeland; March 12, chancery, courtroom, 50 E. Robinson St., Orlando; 7 p.m. Sessions last approximately

60-90 minutes. Contact: Juanita Lacy, 407-246-4875, or jlacy@orlandodiocese.org.

Eighth annual Vincentian benefit golf tournament: March 2, noon registration for 1 p.m. scramble, Errol Estates Country Club, Apopka. Entry fee: $95, includes use of practice range, snacks, prizes, silent auction, attendance gifts and dinner. Sponsorships: $100, $300, $500. Benefits the Vincentian food pantry at St. Francis of Assisi Parish, Apopka. Call 407-889-9485.

Orlando’s three cathedrals choir concert: March 9, 6 p.m., Cathedral Church of St. Luke, 140 Magnolia Avenue, Orlando. Sponsored by St. James Cathedral Friends of the Music Ministry, Episcopal Cathedral Church of St. Luke and the Anglican Cathedral of the Incarnation. Program includes, “The Seven Last Words of Christ” by Theodore Dubois. Stetson University Orchestra and guest soloists Kimberly Randall, Jeremy Hunt and Thomas Potter from the University of Central Florida will perform. Free. Contact: Marianne M. Popkins, 407-425-1552, or mpopkins@cfl.rr.com.

Festival of Faith: May 8-10, Orange County Convention Center, South Concourse, International Drive, off I-4, Orlando. Celebrates the Diocese of Orlando’s 40th anniversary and the “Year of Evangelization.” A celebration of faith through liturgy, speakers, a concert, ministry fair, films and more. Free. For more information, www.festivaloffaith.org.

PRAYER SESSIONS/MASSES

HIV/AIDS bilingual Mass: March 4, 7:30 p.m., Good Shepherd Parish, 5900 Oleander Drive, Orlando, for those who have died of AIDS and those who are living with HIV. Call Ana Cintron, 407-275-8364, or parish office, 407-277-3939.

Haitian-Creole Mass: Sundays, 9 a.m., Robinswood Middle School, 6305 Balboa Drive, Orlando. Sponsored by St. Andrew Parish.

Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament: Monday through Saturday, 7:10 a.m. until start of 8:30 a.m. Mass, and Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to noon; first Sundays, noon-6 p.m., Chapel of Our Lady of the Angels; rosary for vocations daily following Mass, St. Brendan Parish, 1000 Oceanshore Blvd., Ormond Beach. 386-441-1505.

Pray rosary for life: Third and fifth Saturdays, 7 a.m., abortion facility on Lucerne Terrace in downtown Orlando. St. Augustine’s Respect Life Committee invites

fellow Catholics to join them in praying the rosary. 407-699-4328.

SUPPORTSupport group for separated

and divorced: • Mondays, 7 p.m., Holy 

Redeemer Parish, Kissimmee. Alta, 407-201-4696.

• Mondays, Holy Cross Parish, Orlando. Cheryl, 407-858-9807.

•  Blessed Trinity Parish, Ocala. If interested, call Barbara Saalfield, 352-629-8092.

•  Third Thursdays, 7-8:30 p.m., Catholic Charities, 1801 E. Memorial Blvd. Interfaith. 863-686-7153.

•  Second and fourth Thursdays, 7 p.m., St. Joseph Parish office building 400, Room 402, 5330 Babcock Street, Palm Bay. Call 321 727-1565.

Singles, separated, widowed and divorced group: First and third Tuesdays, 7:30 p.m., Holy Name of Jesus Parish community room, Indialantic, 321-259-5650; first Fridays, outside activity, and third Fridays, 7 p.m., Our Saviour Parish center, 5301 N. Atlantic Ave., Cocoa Beach. 321-213-6629.

Orlando Catholic Singles: Offers spiritual, social and service activities for the 40-plus age group. Fran Haibach, 407-756-9322.

Support group for families with incarcerated loved ones:

•  Third Wednesdays, 7:30 p.m., St. Mary Magdalen Parish center, 861 Maitland Ave., Altamonte Springs. 407-695-6818 or e-mail jeancanatsey@cfl.rr.com.

•  First Thursdays, 6:30 p.m., Our Lady of Grace Parish activity center, Room 2, 300 Malabar Road S.E., Palm Bay. 321-725-3066.

Bereavement support groups: •  Tuesdays, 7 p.m., Holy 

Redeemer Parish, 1603 N. Thacker Ave., Kissimmee, 407-846-2033.

•  Thursdays, 10-11:30 a.m., St. Mary Magdalen Parish office, 861 Maitland Ave., Altamonte Springs, 407-831-1212.

Same-sex support group: Courage, spiritual support groups for persons with same-sex attractions striving to lead chaste lives in accordance with the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church. In Ocala, 352-854-2181. In Orlando, 407-791-3717.

SECULAR COMMUNITIES

Lay Carmelites, St. James: First Saturdays, begins with Mass at 8 a.m., followed by meeting and spiritual development until 11:30 a.m., St. James Cathedral, 215 N. Orange Ave., Orlando. Contact: Kathleen Richardville, 407-898-3902.

Lay Carmelites, St. Therese of the Child Jesus: Fourth Saturdays, begins with Mass at 9 a.m., followed by meeting and spiritual development, Ascension Parish, 2950 N. Harbor City Blvd., Melbourne. Contact: Agatha Bobitka, TOC, 321-253-2833.

Lay Carmelites, St. Therese Community 1015: Fourth Tuesdays, 10 a.m. after Mass and Benediction, St. Vincent de Paul Parish, 5323 E. County Road 462, Wildwood. Contact: Mary Dillon, TOC, 352-259-4198.

Lay Carmelites: For information about other communities throughout the Diocese of Orlando, contact Steve Riddle, regional coordinator, 407-855-9954.

Secular Franciscan Order, Lady Poverty Fraternity: First and third Tuesdays, begins with evening prayer at 7 p.m., Mary, Mother of God Chapel, San Pedro Spiritual Development Center, 2400 Dike Road, Winter Park. Meeting follows. Contact: Dan Hardester, SFO, danhardester@yahoo.com.

Secular Franciscan Fraternity: Fourth Saturdays, 10 a.m., Queen of Peace Parish hall, Ocala. Secular Franciscans commit themselves by promise, not vow, to live the Gospel life of Jesus Christ in the spirit of St. Francis of Assisi. 352-854-5647 or 352-793-7071.

Secular Franciscan Order, St. Francis Fraternity: First Sundays, 12:30 p.m., St. Francis of Assisi Parish, Building B, 834 S. Orange Blossom Trail, Apopka. Call Jeane Fwaynos, SFO, 407-869-6716.

Secular Franciscan Fraternity, Little Flowers of St. Francis: Second Saturdays, following the 8:30 a.m. Mass, Epiphany Parish, parish house 5, 201 Lafayette St., Port Orange. Peg, 386-677-7089.

Secular Order of the Servants of Mary (Servite), Our Lady of Sorrows Community: Second Fridays, 9:30 a.m., St. Timothy Parish ministry building, Lady Lake. Secular Servites are laypeople who commit themselves by promise to live the Gospel life of Jesus Christ, and to deepen the knowledge and acts of devotion to Mary. Contact: Donald Siple, SOSM, 352-750-4877.

Secular Order of the Servants of Mary, St. Peregrine Community: Second Saturdays, 10:30 a.m., St. Catherine of Siena Parish, St. Peregrine Room, 2750 E. Osceola Parkway, Kissimmee. Contact: Adriana Bentum-Tilus, SOSM, 407-288-3701.

Secular Franciscan Fraternity, San Damiano: Wednesday, March 5, after 9 a.m. Mass and rosary, St. Mark Parish, Highway 42, Summerfield. Contact: Kathryn Hampel, SFO, 352-750-6334.

ONGOING MEETINGS

Msgr. Bishop Knights of Columbus Council 2112: Regular business meeting, first Mondays, 8 p.m., at the council hall, 5727 Cornelia Ave., Orlando. Rosary, 7:30 p.m. Meeting is open to all Knights who have taken their first degree. Contact: Grand Knight Bill Mazanec, 407-678-2112.

St. Patrick Knights of Columbus Assembly 2883: Regular business meeting, second Mondays, 7:30 p.m., Annunciation Parish family life center, Fireplace

Room, 1020 Montgomery Road, Altamonte Springs. Meeting is open to all fourth-degree Knights. Contact: Faithful Navigator Bob Nettles, 407-297-1852, or nettlesbob@aol.com.

Knights of Columbus St. Joseph Council 7408: Regular business meeting, second and fourth Thursdays, 7:30 p.m., Knights of Columbus, Babcock Street, Palm Bay. All local and/or visiting Knights are welcome to attend. Call Grand Knight Bob Burgess, 321 537-5240.

Catholic War Veterans: Father John Washington Post 1944, second Saturdays, 10 a.m., Prince of Peace Parish, Gold Room, 600 S. Nova Road, Ormond Beach. All Catholic men and women who have served honorably in the armed forces of the United States are invited to join. Gene Swarbrick, 386-255-3814, or e-mail fatherjohnwashington1944@yahoo.com.

Catholic War Veterans of Lakeland: Bishop Charles B. McLaughlin Memorial Post 1917, third Mondays, 6:30 p.m., St. Joseph Parish hall, 210 W. Lemon St., Lakeland. All Catholic men and women who have served honorably in the armed forces of the United States are invited to join. Spouses are welcome. Dinner follows. Steve Jones, 863-688-8787, or e-mail sirstevetheknight@earthlink.net.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

JMJ Life Center seeks volunteers due to an expansion of services. Opportunities exist for experienced ultrasound technicians, Internet/telephone solicitation of supplies, IT support, data entry, pickup and delivery of donations, accounting, fundraising, development director, committee managers, a handyman and a cleaning person. Some of the positions can be done from home on your schedule for as little as one hour per week. Call 407-839-0620 or visit www.jmjlifecenter.org.

Building volunteers: The diocesan Mission Office needs volunteers to assist with its goal of building homes in the Dominican Republic. Several mission trips are planned for the year. Trained and untrained are needed. 407-246-4890.

VITAS: Would you like to befriend terminally ill patients, provide relief for weary caregivers, accompany pets on Paw Pals visits, visit with veterans, provide art and music therapy, make bereavement calls, sew, make crafts, repair medical equipment or help with administrative work? Call 407-691-4541 or e-mail central.floridavolunteers@vitas.com.

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florida news a15Feb. 29-March 6, 2008 www.thefloridacatholic.org

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“ Gather us in ” Parish Mission on Evangelization

Fr. John Murray, C.Ss.R. San Alphonso Retreat House, West End, NJ

Sunday thru Thursday, March 9th thru 13th at 7:00 pm

Extraordinary Preaching † Penance Service † Beautiful Eucharistic Liturgy

Sacred Heart Church • 998 Fr. Donlan Dr. & U.S. 1 • New Smyrna Beach, FL

(386) 428-6426

Can’t get to the

Vatican?Don’t worry, it’s coming to

you with history, art

COURTESY PHOTOS

A bronze cast of the hand of Pope John Paul II will be on display at the Florida International Museum’s Vatican Splendors exhibit in St. Petersburg, which will run through May 11. Exhibit officials said visitors may touch the cast.

CARLOS BRICENOof the Florida Catholic staff

ST. PETERSBURG — If you’ve always wanted to see the Vatican, but haven’t had the time or the money to fly to Rome, not to worry — the Vatican is coming to you.

“Vatican Splendors from St. Pe-ter’s Basilica, the Vatican Muse-ums and Swiss Guard,” one of the largest collections of art, docu-ments and historically significant objects from the Vatican ever to tour North America, can be seen at the Florida International Mu-seum in St. Petersburg through Sunday, May 11.

“Spiritually, I think people will take away an appreciation of the Catholic Church’s embracing of everything human,” said Brother Charles Hilken, Brothers of the Christian Schools, a professor of medieval history at St. Mary’s Col-lege in California. “I think people will take away from it the antiq-uity and continuity of the church. There are a lot of liturgical items, vessels and vestments in the ex-hibit, which speak to the fact that

Christians have been celebrating the sacraments of the church there at St. Peter’s under the leadership of their bishop since the founda-tion of the church.”

The timing of the exhibit coin-cides with the 500th anniversary of the founding of the Vatican Mu-seums, Michelangelo’s painting of the Sistine Chapel ceiling and the establishment of the Papal Swiss Guard, exhibit officials said. It also coincides with the 40th anni-versary of one of the co-sponsors of the exhibit, the Diocese of St. Petersburg.

“It’s an exhibit about art, histo-ry, culture and faith and certainly the church’s legacy over the past 2,000 years,” said Mark Green-berg, president of Evergreen Ex-hibitions, which is producing the exhibit in association with the museum. “There’s something for everyone there. If you’re not Cath-olic, there’s great art.”

The exhibit, which is organized and circulated in conjunction with the government of the Vati-can city-state, has more than 200 objects, most of which have never been outside of Rome, Greenberg said.

St. Petersburg is one of three cities in which the exhibit will appear this year, he said. It will then go to Cleveland and St. Paul, Minn.

The exhibition is organized into four thematic sections that trace the evolution of the Catholic Church and its papacy, starting with St. Peter through the cur-rent pontiff, Pope Benedict XVI. Special emphasis has also been placed on the founding of the cur-rent St. Peter’s Basilica, the Papal Swiss Guard and the Vatican Mu-seums. It is presented in some-what of a multisensory experi-

ence, which exhibition designers hope will allow visitors to feel as if they are visiting the Vatican. For instance, one section is a re-cre-ation of a second-century Vatican necropolis, where the exhibit has a reliquary containing the bones of St. Peter. Ancient oil lamps are also on display near a reproduc-tion of the monument marking

A mosaic fragment with the image of St. Paul the Apostle wi l l be on display at the Florida International Museum’s Vatican Splendors exhibit in St. Petersburg, which will run through May 11.

PlEASE SEE VATICAN, A16

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Florida Catholic Feb. 29-March 6, 2008A16 Your orlando communitY

St. Peter’s tomb. Visitors can also touch a bronze cast of Pope John Paul II’s hand.

Peter Radetsky, a content de-veloper/writer for the exhibit, said he hopes Catholics who visit the museum will leave with “a wonderful sense of their own tradition and heritage.”

Other highlights from the show include:

•  the Mandylion  of  Edessa, a third- to fifth-century image on linen considered the oldest known representation of Jesus;

•  a mosaic bust of an angel by the 14th-century master Giotto;

•  personal items and tools of Michelangelo, and playing cards used by members of his staff dur-ing the Sistine Chapel frescoing;

•  a  terra-cotta  sculpture  by Bernini;

•  the papal tiara of Pope Pius VII, the symbol of the papacy, made of gold, precious stones, pearls, velvet and si lk, and topped with an emerald;

•  a Buddhist thanka image of embroidered cloth and pearls, given by the Dalai Lama to John

Paul II;•  the  pastoral  staff  of  Pope 

John Paul II;•  a  special  presentation  of 

uniforms, armor and weapons from the Papal Swiss Guard.

Through special arrange-ments, a previously unpublished painting by renowned 17th-cen-tury painter Guercino will also be featured in the exhibition.

“We have objects that used to hang on the walls of apartments of popes, paintings in particular, that have never been displayed that are in the exhibition,” said Radetsky.

One of the ways the current pope is highlighted is by spot-lighting his recent election. Ac-tual objects from the ceremo-nies — including a silver and gilt bronze urn and gilt bronze paten used for voting, a voting ballot, a white smoke cartridge used for announcing the election, and the first papal vestments created for the new pope — are displayed.

“We are proud to be a part of this truly historic event,” said Bishop Robert N. Lynch. “We en-courage all residents to see the papal objects and learn the his-tory of the church from a cultural viewpoint.” n

Diaconate retreat

FLORIDA CATHOLIC PHOTO BY CHARLES HODGES

Bishop Thomas Wenski celebrates Mass during the diaconate retreat at San Pedro Spiritual Development Center in Winter Park Feb. 16. For men interested in becoming deacons, informational nights are currently being held throughout the Diocese of Orlando. The next session will be March 5 at Ascension Parish in Melbourne. A new class will begin in August. For more information, call Juanita Lacy at 407-246-4875.

MATURE LIFESTYLES April 4, 2008

We welcome all advertisers to take advantage of this tremendous advertising

opportunity.

Call your advertising representative today to reserve your space

FLORIDACatholicYOUR FAITH. YOUR LIFE. YOUR COMMUNITY.

Jane Radetsky • 407-373-0075 • Fax: 407-373-0087 • jradetsky@thefloridacatholic.org

VATICANFROM A15

In hope and grief, families promote bone marrow registrySTAFF REPORT

ST. PETERSBURG — Two fam-ilies — one grieving, one hopeful — came together Feb. 12 in St. Pe-tersburg to help others win their fights with cancer.

Melissa Rutland hosted a bone marrow donor registration drive at her business, Rutland North-east Storage, in memory of her father, Bud Rutland, who died of leukemia April 17 at the age of 55.

Joining her was the family of Emily Lester, an 18-year-old leu-kemia patient whose efforts to support the bone marrow reg-istry have inspired many in the Tampa Bay area to register on her behalf. Emily was diagnosed with cancer at age 12 and is awaiting her second transplant at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis. 

“She received a donation al-most two years ago from her sis-ter,” said Emily’s grandfather, Jim Previtera of St. Paul Parish in St. Petersburg. “Unfortunately, she relapsed last month.”

Emily’s best hope is that the Na-tional Bone Marrow Donor Regis-try will find a possible bone mar-row donor who closely matches her marrow makeup. It won’t be easy, but increasing the number of donors increases the chance of finding a suitable match.

Sevent y-four people were added to the registry in just a

few hours at the Rutland event. Many  of  them  were  Catholics who learned of the drive through St. Paul’s Knights of Columbus council, which spread the word via e-mail.

Staffers at parishes and the Pastoral Center also responded.

Mike Meza, grand Knight, said the council was eager to do what it could to promote the cause.

“We put out the message to our council and the other councils in the district,” he said. “(Helping) is really what the Knights are all about.”

Joining the registry requires little more than personal infor-mation and a few swabs of saliva. About 6.7 million people current-ly are in the donor database.

Alongside the 74 people added to the bone marrow registry, 12 donated blood. Previtera says he was humbled by the response.

“St. Paul’s Parish has been ex-tremely supportive of our family through all of this,” he said. “It re-ally shows what it is to be part of a true Christian community.”

Bud Rutland wasn’t able to benefit from the donor program, but Melissa Rutland hopes that through her efforts, other fami-lies’ suffering can be avoided and other lives can be saved.

“It helps me because I’m doing something good for his memory,” she said. “Hopefully, it will help people find a cure.” n